Top Ten, Upcoming Movie Sequels & Prequels Options

[ladygorb]

Number 10

Indiana Jones 4
Stage of production: Technically in pre-production, but the script has allegedly been approved by director Stephen Spielberg and writer George Lucas.

Expected release date: 2007

Harrison Ford has signed on for the fourth installment of this box-office juggernaut, almost 18 years after he last donned the fedora and whip to play the globetrotting archeologist. This time, he's rumored to be headed deep into the Amazon in search of a lost civilization. Okay, no marks for originality, but with Spielberg back at the helm, look for this movie to pick up without missing a beat.

What to look out for: Or maybe what not to look for, as in Indiana Jones doing a bunch of stunts. Harrison will be almost 65 (gasp!) when the film hits theaters, so the script is set to introduce his heir. Whether that is his son or perhaps even his daughter (Natalie Portman's name has been tossed around) is still to be determined.


Number 9

Batman Begins sequel (untitled)
Stage of production: Another one of those "pre-production" films, but with all principals involved signed on.

Expected release date: 2008

Christopher Nolan's dark, unflinching Batman Begins saved this venerable franchise from drowning in its own crappiness. It also made Warner Brothers a batcave full of money, so a sequel was inevitable. Nolan is slated to return as director, and über-screenwriter David S. Goyer has penned the script. Christian Bale will be back as the Dark Knight, but there is no word yet on whether Katie Holmes will be able to escape the high-security Scientology compound in which she is currently being held captive in order to reprise her role as Rachel Dawes. Little is known plot-wise, although some rumors suggest Batman will battle more than one enemy as he tackles organized crime and corruption in Gotham.

What to look out for: Fan sites are salivating over the prospect of the Joker returning. Other villains rumored to be involved include Harvey Dent/Two-Face and the Penguin. Sure, these guys have already appeared in earlier sequels, but look for Nolan to tone them down a bit and show their human side.


Number 8

Rambo 4
Stage of production: Preliminary filming has started and a teaser poster has popped up to give it some credibility.

Expected release date: 2006

Messed-up Vietnam vet John Rambo came to epitomize the gung-ho American cockiness that developed at the end of the Cold War. So, with a whole new generation of flag-waving patriots hungry for a hero, the timing is right for Stallone to drag his dusty alter ego back onto the big screen. You'd naturally expect the monotone killing machine to go after nasty Islamic terrorists, but political correctness dictates a different approach. Rambo will come out of hiding to take justice into his own hands after a little girl goes missing.

What to look out for: Some interesting casting rumors are swirling in cyberspace, including Tommy Lee Jones as Rambo's mentor, Colonel Trautman.

Number 7

Old School 2
Stage of production: Pre-production, but picking up speed.

Expected release date: 2007

In Old School, Frank the Tank and his friends reminded us how funny getting drunk and acting stupid could be. Their antics, which revolved around starting a fraternity when they were already deep into their 20s and early 30s, turned the movie into a surprise hit. In Hollywood, this means instant sequel. Most of the cast has moved on to bigger and better things, but when the dump truck full of money backs up to their houses, expect to see Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson return to corrupt a whole new generation of kids dozens of years their juniors.

What to look out for: Early drafts of the script have the lovable losers taking off to Daytona for Spring Break. Did someone say "BOOBIES?"


Number 6

Rocky Balboa
Stage of production: Filming.

Expected release date: 2007

After the indescribable disaster that was Rocky V, everyone considered this tired old franchise down for the count. But like the true dough-headed heavyweight fighter that he is, Rocky has picked himself up off the canvas, dusted off his gloves and is ready to come out swinging for another shot at the title. Stallone might be over 60 by the time this hits theaters, but he is in phenomenal shape and has something to prove to all the haters. This time around, poor ol' Roc is in financial ruin and is faced with a choice: Eat cat food or return to the ring.

What to look out for: Every Rocky movie needs a villain, and Mr. T and The Rock were early names considered to play Sly's nemesis. Instead, look for light heavyweight champion of the world Antonio Tarver to play the improbably-named Mason "The Line" Dixon.


Number 5

Wedding Crashers 2
Stage of production: Announced.

Expected release date:2007

The original Wedding Crashers cashed in for a GDP-sounding $209 million at the box office. So, before you could say "I do," they greenlighted a sequel and hired the original screenwriters to make it all happen. Now, while Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are greedily rubbing their hands together awaiting contract negotiations, poor Steve Faber and Bob Fisher have to figure out how to write a sequel about two guys that crash weddings to pick up girls after both characters got happily married in the original.

What to look out for: With the script not yet finished, Internet moles have unearthed very little about this plot. Some suggest it may involve the newly single boys crashing funerals (classy), while others contend it will be set at a family reunion-slash-wedding.


Number 4

X-Men 3
Stage of production: Wrapped.

Expected release date: May 26, 2006

X-Men is part of the new breed of comic book movies that combine eye-popping visuals and surprisingly layered plots. With the first two X-Men chapters having netted a combined $400 million, the public obviously likes what it sees. So we have a third.

Gone is director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects); he has been replaced by Brett Ratner, whose name ironically sounds like that of a comic book villain's alter ego. This change has scared some of the hardcore fans out there, but with more screen time promised for Wolverine and a storyline based on mutants fighting back against a "cure" for their condition, it sounds like Ratner would have to go out of his way to screw up.

What to look out for:There are still many top-shelf mutants that have not yet been introduced in the film versions of this venerable comic series. This time, look for Kelsey Grammer as Beast and Ben Foster as Angel.

Number 3

Spider-Man 3
Stage of production: Filming began in November 2005.

Expected release date: May 4, 2007

It is rare that a sequel outshines its predecessor, especially when the original was already pretty damn good. But Spider-Man 2 did just that, using a beefier special effects budget and a more emotional script to weave a near-flawless summer blockbuster. The third installment will therefore be released under the crushing weight of immense expectations. Trust director Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire and yummy Kirsten Dunst not to disappoint. Peter Parker continues to battle his inner demons and an assortment of imaginative bad boys, all while struggling to keep MJ.

What to look out for: Watch out for a new crop of bad guys: A stunningly beefed-up Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) has been cast as the benevolent-sounding Sandman, while That '70s Show alum Topher Grace is to play the significantly more menacing-sounding Venom.


Number 2

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Stage of production: Post-production.

Expected release date: July 7, 2006

This surprise mega-blockbuster from Disney was buoyed by Johnny Depp's Keith Richards-influenced Captain Jack Sparrow. It squeaked in just over $300 million, which was good enough for the studio to order two additional sequels at once. Summer 2006 will give us Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. This time, Captain Jack finds out he owes a sizable sum to the infamous Davey Jones and must repay his debt or face eternal damnation. Thankfully, all we get from our creditors are harassing phone calls.

What to look out for: Rumors of Keith Richards coming onboard to play Jack's dad turned out to be just that: rumors! But creepy British actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually) should be perfect as the supernatural Davey Jones.


Number 1

Superman Returns
Stage of production: Post-production.

Expected release date: June 30, 2006

Nerds all across the world have been waiting for this for years. This project has been in limbo forever, with names like Nicolas Cage (who actually named one of his sons Kal-El -- Superman's real name) and Kevin Smith (Clerks) attached to it at various times. Finally, Bryan Singer came onboard and got it off the ground. Newcomer Brandon Routh will play the Man of Steel, who returns to Earth after years of absence to find a world and a woman that have gone on without him.

What to look out for: Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane both sound promising. Comic book fans are savvy and won't take any one-dimensional crap, so look for Singer and friends to blow us away with a deep, rich blockbuster that could smash box-office records.


honorable mention

The Brazilian Job
Stage of production: Pre-production, with the script almost finished.

Expected release date: 2006

Like a bad calzone, The Italian Job left a pretty bad taste in our mouths. Other than a few nifty scenes, it was entirely forgettable and extremely disappointing, especially considering the cast that included Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. But it did make over $100 million, which gets you a sequel these days. This time, Charlie Croker and his gang of clichéd heist movie characters are headed to Rio for another ridiculously complex job.

What to look out for: We are all suckers for a nice, light heist movie, so we'll give these guys one more chance to get it right. But Norton isn't coming back, so there just might not be an Australian Job.

[hlias_gr]

Great! I like that! Thanks pam!

[Centric21]

Very cool! Love most of those. Can't wait

[viv]

Indiana Jones 4???
Wowwwww.... I love it!! I can't wait to see Harrison Ford again, even if he will be 65!